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Intelligent hardware for detecting color value of an image

a technology of intelligent hardware and image, applied in the field of image scanning, printing and similar imaging systems, can solve problems such as unsatisfactory blemishes in both content and background

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-02-05
FUNAI ELECTRIC CO LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about evaluating pixel characteristics by using minimal hardware logic. This can be done by computing histograms from pixel color space components or comparing pixel color space components to threshold values. The invention allows for economization of hardware logic by using bit-shift operations to approximate the conversion of pixels from one color space to another. For example, an approximation of luminance can be computed by summing a red component, a green component, and a blue component, each shifted right two bits. The invention is not restricted to the described examples and can be used in various applications.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, scanned images inherently contain noise that causes undesirable blemishes in both the content and the background.

Method used

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  • Intelligent hardware for detecting color value of an image
  • Intelligent hardware for detecting color value of an image
  • Intelligent hardware for detecting color value of an image

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0017]Logic elements of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or similar hardware or firmware device relating to color space conversion, pixel characteristic evaluation, and image background removal are illustrated in FIG. 1. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the ASIC is included in an all-in-one machine (not shown) that performs some combination of scanning, printing, copying and other document processing tasks. As described below, features of the invention serve to minimize the amount of ASIC resources used for color space conversion, pixel characteristic evaluation, and image background removal operations in the device. In the exemplary embodiment, a pixel characteristic can be, for example, whether a pixel forms part of the background of the image. Pixels can be evaluated by generating a histogram, by comparing color space components of the pixel to predetermined threshold values or other quantities, or by other suitable means. The results of the evaluatio...

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Abstract

Pixel characteristics, such as whether a pixel forms part of the background of an image, are evaluated by computing histograms from pixel color space components, by comparing pixel color space components to threshold values, or by other methods.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to image scanning, printing and similar imaging systems in which image processing operations can be performed and, more specifically, to identifying and removing background noise and colors so that the remainder of the image appears cleaner.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]So-called “multifunction” or “all-in-one” machines that perform some combination of scanning, printing, copying, facsimile and other tasks are increasingly popular for home and business use. A user can place a document in the machine and, for example, press a “Copy” button to cause the machine to scan the document and print a copy.[0005]Scanned images may be categorized into two subgroups, “content” and “background”. The content of a document refers to those elements of the image like text or pictures that are intended to be the information of interest to a reader. While the background is made up of ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06K9/40G06T5/00H04N1/58
CPCG06T7/408G06T2200/28H04N1/58G06T2207/20144G06T2207/30176G06T2207/10008G06T7/194G06T7/90
Inventor AHMED, MOHAMED NOOMANBRESWICK, CURT PAULGIBSON, GRETCHEN YVONNEPHAM, BOB THAI
Owner FUNAI ELECTRIC CO LTD